Electromagnetic device



March 30, 1965 J. H. HORMAN ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1962 FIG. I

FIG.3

INVENTOR. JOHN H. HORMAN FIG. 2

ATTORNEY March 30, 1965 J. H. HORMAN 3,176,199

ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6 FlG'4 4e 44 45 4s 44 47 f l L 1 1 1 m. m 1 4 33 4T''\ 42 37 42 FIG.7

INVENTOR. JOHN H. HORMAN ATTORNEY armature.

3,176,199 ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE John H. Horman, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor to Allied Con- This invention rel-ates to the art of electromagnetic devices and, more particularly, to an electromagnetic relay or switch having improved features of design an construction. The invention pertains, in one of its specific aspects, to an electromagnetic relay that is adapted to be readily made in small and miniature sizes and that is capable of rendering efficient anddependable service under various conditions of use. p

The relay of this invention has wide application. It is specially useful in environments, such as in aircrafts, which may be subjected to high inertia forces due to shock, vibration and continued acceleration or deceleralimited.

Incorporated in the relay of this invention is a number of novel and useful features. One such feature resides in the provision of a pair of pole pieces, each of which comprises a pair of angularly disposed legs which terminate in extensions or feet that cooperate with a rotary The legs of each pole piece are preferably normal to each other. The feet of each pole piece are also preferably normal to each other and coplanar with corresponding legs. The several legs and feet are so constructed and arranged as to form portions of the sides of an imaginary rectangular figure.

Another feature of the invention is that the overall height of the relay is effectively reduced and substantially minimized by utilizing a unique rotary armature. For one thing, the armature is thin as compared to conventional rotary armatures and may be readily formed by a'simple and inexpensive stamping procedure. Also, the

armature is so configured as todefine four lobes which are cooperatively associated with corresponding pole piece feet, as will be explained further along herein.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an electromagnetic device having improved and simplified features of design and construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric relay that is capable of being made in small and miniature sizes and that is adapted to effectively withstand shock andvibration forces and conditions of acceleration or deceleration in the course of normal use.

A further object of the'invention is to provide a relay including pole pieces and a rotary armature which are novel in construction and which are so configured and arranged as to contribute substantially to the utility of the relay.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a relay of the character indicated that is small, compact and lightweight in design; that is sturdy and durable in con struction; that is reasonable in manufacturing cost and that is capable of performing its intended functions in a satisfactory and reliable manner.

The present relay may be advantageously employed with various types of switch arrangements including, but not limited to, single pole double throw switches and multipole double throw switches. The ensuing detailed description and the accompanying drawings describe and illustrate, by way of example, a relay of this invention for operating a four pole double throw switch arrangement.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several .views:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a relay constructed United States Patent .foot 18 (FIG. 3).

3,175,199 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 in accordance with the invention, the cover unit of the relay being shown in cross section and certain parts within the confines of the cover unit being in cross section or broken away for better illustration;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the relay shown in FIG. 1, the cover unit and header unit being omitted.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in side elevation of an armature unit which is also shown in other views;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along staggered line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of the header unit shown in FIG. 6, parts being broken away for better illustration.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the complete relay illustrated therein is made up of five principal units, namely an electromagnet unit E, a bracket unit B, an armature unit A, a header unit H and a cover unit C, and a number of secondary units or parts, all of which will now be described.

Electromagnet unit E is best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. This unit comprises a bobbin 14 which carries a coil 11 having a pair of electric leads (not shown). The coil is ensheathed in an insulating wrapper 12. A bar type magnetic core 13 extends through and beyond the ends of the bobbin. The ends of the core are of reduced size as indicated at 14.

The electromagnet unit also comprises a pair of pole pieces 15 which constitute one of the features of the invention. Each pole piece is of one-piece construction and consists of planar, angularly disposed members or legs 16 and 17 which terminate in spaced extensions or feet 18 and 19, respectively.

These feet may be considered the effective portions of the pole pieces in that they cooperate with armature A, as will be described, to actuate the armature when coil 11 is energized. Legs 16 and 17 and their corresponding feet are preferably at right angles to each other. Each pole piece leg 16 is provided with an opening 20 to receive a core end 14 which is riveted over or peened, as indicated at 20', to effect a firm connection and maintain the parts in the illustrated relative position.

Bracket unit B is positioned beneath the coil and is made from a non-magnetic sheet metal. The bracket unit is of inverted generally U-shape and is formed by cutting and bending to obtain a planar web or top member 21 and a pair of spaced parallel arms 22. Each arm has a pair of fingers 23. Top member 21 is provided with a pair of openings 24 through which the coil leads extend. The top member and each arm 22 is provided with a cut-out 25 to accommodate a corresponding pole piece The top member has an integral, depending, hook element 26. One arm 22 carries a laterally projecting stop element 27. Bracket unit B is rigidly affixed to the pole pieces by spot welding or in any other suitable manner known to the art. An armature shaft 28 is secured to and depends from the center of top member 21 and is formed with an annular groove 29 at its free end.

Armature unit A, which is best shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, comprises a planar armature plate 36) that is composed of a suitable magnetic material. This plate is relatively thin and may be readily formed by stamping. Plate 30 is so configured as to obtain a total of four lobes, consisting of a first pair of diagonally disposed lobes 31 and a second pair of diagonally disposed lobes 32. Lobes 31 have rectilinear and parallel edge faces 33 while lobes 32 have like rectilinear and parallel edge faces 34. Plate a slight distance above the top surface and a substantial distance below the bottom surface of that plate. As is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the armature unit is mounted for rotation about the axis of shaft 28 which extends 4th. Each actuator consists of a bent rod 41 which is anchored at one end to the underside of plate 30, preferably by welding, and an insulating element, such as a glass bead 4-2, at the free end of the rod. Beads 42 are positioned below the remainder of the armature unit and are spaced-apart, as shown.

Reference is next had to FIGS. 6 and 7 for an understanding of the details of construction of header unit H. This unit includes a rectangular base plate 43 having side slots 44 to receive bracket fingers 23. The fingers are secured to the base plate by spot welds or in any other desired manner known to the art whereby to obtain a rigid unitary structure. The base plate carries a plurality of spaced electric terminals, namely a pair of terminals 45, and four sets of terminals 4-6, 4 7 and 48. All terminals extend through the base plate and are anchored thereto by corresponding masses of an appropriate, rigid, insulating material, such as glass, as indicated at 49 in FIG. 7. As stated earlier herein, the coil leads (not shown) extend through openings 24 in the bracket unit. Each coil lead is adapted to be connected to a corresponding terminal 45. Each terminal 46 is equipped with an L-shaped sta- .with a rectilinear stationary electric contact 47'; and each terminal 48 is equipped with an L-shaped support 48'. The several stationary contacts and supports are preferably secured to corresponding terminals by welding.

The header unit also includes four movable contact arms 50, one such arm being provided for each of the aforementioned sets of terminals and their respective stationary contacts. These arms are in the form of electrically conductive leaf spring elements. Each contact arm 50 is anchored at one end to a stationary support 48' and is provided proximate its other end with a double contact button 51 which is positioned between corresponding stationary contacts as and 47'. Each contact arm is so configured and arranged that its contact button normally and yieldingly engages a stationary contact 46', as illustrated in FIG. 6. Each contact arm also extends across the path of travel of a corresponding actuator bead 42 and is adapted to be flexed by its actuator bead in a manner that its contact button is moved out of engagement with its stationary contact as and into engagement with corresponding stationary contact 47 in response to predetermined pivotal movement of the armature unit in one direction about the axis of shaft 2%.

Cover unit C cooperates with base plate into encase the parts of the relay which are positioned above the base plate. The cover unit comprises a tubular side wall 52 and a top wall 5?. The cover unit is open at its lower end for reception of various parts of the relay and forms a snug fit with the base plate. Affixed to the cover unit side wall is a pair of L-shaped brackets 54 for use in mounting the relay to a panel board or other selected location. I

For the purpose of outlining the operation of the herein described embodiment of the invention, it is first assumed that the relay has been assembled and that coil lll is deenergized. Accordingly, the parts are in the relative position shown in the drawings with lobes 31 and 32 out of engagement with corresponding pole piece feet 1.3 and 19 and with button contacts 511. in engagement with corresponding stationary contacts 46'. When the coil is energized by passing current therethrough, it will create magnetic flux through core 13, pole piece legs 16 and 17 and their feet 18 and 19, respectively, and armature unit plate 30. The attracting force exerted'by the magnetic flux acting on the lobes 31 and 32 of the armature unit causes the armature unit to pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, against the action of spring 39 until lobe edge faces 33 and 34, respectively, bear against the inner surfaces of pole piece feet 18 and 19.

The indicated clockwise pivotal movement of the armature unit causes all actuator beads 42 to simultaneously engage and flex corresponding contact arms whereby each contact button 51 breaks contact with its stationary contact 46' and makes contact with a corresponding stationary contact 4'7. The contact buttons then remain in contact with their stationary'contacts 4'7 so long as the coil remains energized. When the coil is again deenergized, the holding force of any residual magnetism is overcome by return spring 39 which imparts counterclockwise pivotal movement to the armature unit and returns the armature unit to the relative'po'sition shown 7 in FIG. 2. At the same time, the actuator beads become disengaged from the movable contact arms 54), thereby allowing these arms to return to the relativeposition shown 'inFlGp6.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation, objects and advantages of my present invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art, without further description. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the construction described above and illustrated in the drawings may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it being intended that allymatter contained in the description or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1. In an electromagnetic device, support means comprising an inverted generally U-shaped bracket unit, said bracket unitincluding a top member and a pair of spaced parallel arms depending from the top member, an electromagnet unit mounted on the bracket unit and comprising a magnetizing coil positioned above the top member, a core extending through the coil and a pair of pole pieces which are secured to opposite ends of the core and to the bracket unit, each pole piece including a pair of feet which are angularly disposed relative to each other, an armature unit carried by the bracket unit and pivotal about an axis whichis substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the core, said armature comprising an armature member having four angularly spaced lobes which are cooperatively associated with corresponding feet of the pole pieces, and biasing means normally urging the armature unit in a direction away from the feet of the pole pieces about its pivotal connection with the support means, the armature unit being adapted, upon energization of the coil, to be moved in a reverse direction about said pivotal connection against the action of the biasing means by magnetic attraction between the feet of the pole pieces and the armature unit.

2. An electromagnetic device according to claim 1 wherein the feet of the pole pieces projectbelow the top member and wherein the armature member and the lobes are positioned beneath the top member.

3. An electromagnetic device according to claim 2 wherein a foot of each pole piece is at least partly disposed in a corresponding opening in the bracket unit.

4. An electromagnetic device according to claim 1 wherein the biasing means comprises a spring connected to the bracket unit and to the armature unit and wherein the bracket unit is provided with a stop element for limiting movement of the armature unit about said pivotal connection in a direction away from the feet of the pole pieces.

3,176,199 a 5. An electromagnetic device according to claim 1 normal to each other and wherein the armature member wherein the feet of each pole piece r substantially and the lobes are integral and substantially coplanar. normal to each other.

6. An electromagnetic device according to claim 1 Reta-was Cited by Examiner wherein the armature member and the lobes are integral 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS and substantially coplanar. 2,836,674 5/58 Krantz 317-197 7. An electromagnetic device according to claim 1 ,882,367 4/ 59 Baker et a1 20087 wherein the feet of each pole piece are substantially JQHN F. BURNS, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE, SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING AN INVERTED GENERALLY U-SHAPED BRACKET UNIT, SAID BRACKET UNIT INCLUDING A TOP MEMBER AND A PAIR OF SPACED PARALLEL ARMS DEPENDING FROM THE TOP MEMBER, AN ELECTROMAGNET UNIT MOUNTED ON THE BRACKET UNIT AND COMPRISING A MAGNETIZING COIL POSITIONED ABOVE THE TOP MEMBER, A CORE EXTENDING THROUGH THE COIL AND A PAIR OF POLE PIECES WHICH ARE SECURED TO OPPOSITE ENDS OF THE CORE AND TO THE BRACKET UNIT, EACH POLE PIECE INCLUDING A PAIR OF FEET WHICH ARE ANGULARLY DISPOSED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, AN ARMATURE UNIT CARRIED BY THE BRACKET UNIT AND PIVOTAL ABOUT AN AXIS WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CORE, SAID ARMATURE COMPRISING AN ARMATURE MEMBER HAVING FOUR ANGULARLY SPACED LOBES WHICH ARE COOPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH CORRESPONDING FEET OF THE POLE PIECES, AND BIASING MEANS NORMALLY URGING THE ARMATURE UNTI IN A DIRECTTION AWAY FROM THE FEET OF THE POLE PIECES ABOUT ITS PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH THE SUPPORT MEANS, THE ARMATURE UNIT BEING ADAPTED, UPON ENERGIZATION OF THE COIL, TO BE MOVED IN A REVERSE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID PIVOTAL CONNECTION AGANINST THE ACTION OF THE BIASING MEANS BY MAGNETIC ATTRACTION BETWEEN THE FEET OF THE POLE PIECES AND THE ARMATURE UNIT. 